Magnus rotors as a means of improving the performance of sa vonius rotors and vehicles

ABSTRACT

A means of reducing fluid density in front of Savonius blades by installing magnus rotors to accelerate onrushing fluid away from the blade itself. Several magnus rotors are mounted on either external side of the centerline of each blade, so as the Savonius rotor is revolved by the surrounding fluid and the magnus rotors are revolved on either side of the centerline in opposite directions, then fluid pressure is reduced and the Savonius rotor&#39;s speed is increased. Also, if the magnus rotor is formed from a sheathed flexible shaft and attached to an underlying contoured surface of a vehicle, such as a racing car or a helical Savonius rotor, fluid resistance to the forward motion of the vehicle is reduced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Reducing fluid density at certain locations about Savonius rotors and vehicles can improve the performance of these structures by reducing fluid friction through the medium through which these structures are made to travel.

A circular cylinder made to spin in a fluid made to move crosswise to its axis of spin is known as a Magnus Rotor. This device is made to produce a fluid dynamic side force, perpendicular to both the fluid direction and the axis of spin. For example, a cylinder made to spin on its central axis in a wind, with that axis horizontal, made to spin so its lower surface is made to move against the wind, produces a lifting force. This force has been studied both theoretically and experimentally,

and was found to be about ten times as strong as the corresponding force produced by an airfoil when compared at equal projected area, wind speed, and air density, if the cylinder were spun fast enough. The power input for a Magnus Rotor is found by using the formula P=the coefficient of friction times the cube of the angular velocity times pi times the radius to the fourth power times the length. (from USDOE Grant Report DOE/R6/10969)

Another relevant technology to this invention is the Flexible Shaft, which is made out of layers of high tensile wire wound over each other at opposing pitch angles. When torque is applies to the flexible shaft, the wire layers are made to expand or contract depending on the direction of rotation. If the torque causes the outer layer to contract, the layer underneath will be made to expand. This creates a dynamic interference between the layers of the shaft resulting in high torsional stiffness-approximately 100 times greater than the sum of the individual layers acting alone. There are many patents for this technology, eg. U.S. Pat. No. 1,586,750 and so on.

While the Flettner patent (Re18,122) shows many variations of a Magnus Rotor, all these variants show the rotor only rooted on one end. This complicates the stability of the rotor, for example dealing with the presence of gyroscopic forces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first preferred embodiment, at least two long and thin magnus rotors are placed vertically on the leading surface of a Savonius Rotors spinning in opposite directions so that oncoming air is speeded up, creating a low pressure volume of air, drawing the Savonius Rotor forward (ie. creating a lift force) and lowering air resistance.

In a second preferred embodiment, a series of magnus rotors in the form of flexible shafts are spread over a curved surface to speed up the flow of fluid next to the surface and thereby create a low pressure zone so the surface of, for instance, a racing car or a helical Savonius rotor blade may be accelerated more easily through the atmosphere around it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a Savonius Rotor with the invention installed on it.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional and schematic view of a flexible shaft showing how it acts to further the aim of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a series of flexible shafts installed over a curved surface of a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE TWO PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Preferred Embodiment

Turning to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of a Savonius Rotor 1,3 balanced around a shaft 2. On either side of the centerline of Savonius blade 1 we see magnus rotors 4,5. Air control guides 6,7,8 are shown on either side of the magnus rotors. Identical structures 4 a-8 a are shown affixed to Savonius blade 3. The arrows show airflow as well as the direction of spin of the Savonius Rotor. Shown is a Savonius Rotor of a straight blade design.

There is shown a magnus rotor 4 affixed on either end to brackets 19,20, affixed in their turn to the rotor blade 1 or 3. The magnus rotor itself has no end pieces for reasons of efficiency, as was demonstrated in the experimental work recorded in USDOE Grant Report DE-FG46-79R610969. Motor 9 provides the power to operate magnus rotor 4.

In operation, Savonius blades are made to rotate about shaft 2 by wind. At the same time motors 10 are made to revolve magnus rotors 4, 4 a, 5,5 a in directions away from the centerlines of blades 1,3 at high rates of speed. This action produces a relative vacuum at areas A,B as well as lowering the air pressure at the outer surfaces of blades 1,3. Thus, more torque is produced on shaft 2.

Turning to FIG. 2 we see flexible shaft 14 a,b enclosed in a flexible sheath 15 which is made to be revolved with shaft 14 a,b operably connected to motor 12, and operably attached to an underlying curved surface at its distal end 16. In FIG. 3 there is shown motor 12 operably connected to chain drive 18 and a series of flexible shafts 14[a-n]. Appropriate air flow guides 6,7, and 8 are not shown here. The invention many be mounted on an automobile door or a blade of a helical Savonius rotor and in operation will cause air to be accelerated past the door or external surface of a Savonius rotor, lessening air resistance on the vehicle, as an example of how to use this invention.

From the above descriptions it is apparent that the preferred embodiments achieve the object of the invention. Alternative embodiments and various depictions of the present embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts. 

1. “A means for streamlining surfaces comprising an outer surface of a savonius rotor wherein said outer surface is made to have a centerline, on either side of which are a number of motorized magnus rotors placed normal to a fluid stream and rotated in opposite directions to said centerline at a higher velocity than said fluid stream so fluid pressure is lowered in front of said surface and said fluid stream is accelerated over said surface thus increasing torque on a shaft of said rotor.”
 2. “An outer surface of a vehicle wherein at least one magnus rotor is accelerated at a higher angular velocity than said fluid stream so that said fluid stream becomes laminar next to said surface.
 3. “The invention of claim 2 wherein said outer surface is beneath a vehicle and above a roadway.”
 4. “The inventions of claims 1, 2 wherein said magnus rotor is a motorized flexible shaft.
 5. “The inventions of claims 1, 2 wherein said magnus rotor is a motorized nonflexible shaft”. 